Good morning, and welcome to the 19th meeting in 2019 of the Equalities and Human Rights Committee. I ask everyone to switch off their mobile devices and pop them away. We have no apologies this morning.

Item 1 is a declaration of interests. I welcome Angela Constance to the committee, and I put on record the committee’s thanks to Gail Ross for her service and contribution during her time as a committee member. I invite Angela Constance to declare any interests.

Thank you very much, convener. I look forward to serving on the Equalities and Human Rights Committee. I refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests, but I do not think that there is anything specific to which I need to draw people’s attention.

At our next meeting we will consider subordinate legislation that relates to the Historical Sexual Offences (Pardons and Disregards) (Scotland) Act 2018 and we will begin taking evidence on the Female Genital Mutilation (Protection and Guidance) (Scotland) Bill.